Indigenous garden cultivates cultural connections
SA retirement living and home care service provider ECH has planted a bush tucker garden at its site in Modbury.
As part of its ongoing reconciliation and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, South Australian retirement living and home care provider ECH has planted a bush tucker garden at its site in Modbury.
“The idea for the bush tucker garden came from our Reconciliation Action Plan working group as a way that ECH can engage our clients and team members in our reconciliation journey, and for people to grow their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in a multisensory way,” said ECH chief executive Claire Scapinello.
“At ECH, we are a proud and inclusive organisation which encourages residents and clients to embrace cultural diversity and social connections – not only through this project at our ECH Encore Apartments – but in all that we do,” added Ms Scapinello.
The garden – which was formally opened earlier this month by Buandig woman Leanne Williams to mark National Reconciliation Week – has a large range of edible natives, fruit trees and bush foods.
Ms Williams – who has a diploma in horticulture, conservation and land – has been presenting workshops to a range of community groups on bush food plants and promoting their health benefits and versatile properties.
“Bush food has sustained generations of Aboriginal peoples, and this event represents a rich and vibrant history of the culture of this land,” said Ms Williams.
The garden is a testament to ECH’s commitment to expanding Indigenous cultural knowledge to the community, she added.
“It’s great to be a part of this project. It means I get to share my culture to the community, and the residents of Encore have access to ongoing supplementary flavours they can add to their culinary dishes at all times.”
Main image: A sheoak, just one of the many native floras on display at ECH‘s Modbury site
Comment on the story below. Follow Australian Ageing Agenda on LinkedIn and Facebook, sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter and subscribe to AAA magazine for the complete aged care picture.
